Device for relief and prevention of metatarsalgia



May 5, 1959 A. M. COMPTON 2,884,719

DEVICE FOR RELIEFv AND PREVENTION oF METATARSALGIA Filed Dec. 17, 1957 2 sheets-sheet 1 INVENTOR.

BY @uw Arf/wr M. Compran A. AM. COMPTON DEVICE FOR RELIEF AND` PREVENTION OF METATARSALGIA Filed Dec. 17, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 N M @www United States Patent C DEVICE FOR RELIEF AND PREVENTION F METATARSALGIA Arthur M. Compton, Klamath Falls, Oreg.

Application December 17, 1957, Serial No. 703,360

9 Claims. (Cl. 36-71) This invention relates to a therapeutic appliance and more particularly to a device for relief and prevention of metatarsalgia adapted to be inserted in a shoe or to be built into a shoe during the manufacture thereof.

The primary object of the present invention resides in the provision of a device adapted for the relief of metatarsalgia, that type of foot pain which occurs in the ball of the foot.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a device adapted to provide immediate relief to pain due to walking, standing or other similar action beneath the metatarsal heads and which will serve to reduce callous formations at these locations.

Foot pains beneath the second, third and fourth metatarsal heads are usually grouped under the general term rnetatarsalgia and are by far the most common of foot ailments. The present invention provides means whereby a device of novel construction employing a layer of fine grain sponge rubber or the like, protected by a thin layer or sheet of leather or the like bonded to the sponge rubber, can be inserted in a shoe or embedded therein during the manufacture of the shoe, with the device being so constructed as to provide comfort of an unusually effective type to Athe wearer, yet which is so constructed with tapering peripheral edges whereby no painful bulges will be formed in the device due to the fact that the tapered peripheral edge portions of the device are free to expand or be compressed as necessary.

Still further objects and features of this invention reside in the provision of a device for insertion in a shoe that is simple in construction, capable of being installed in shoes during their manufacture in lieu of conventional metatarsal buttons, which is especially adapted for the relief and treatment of metatarsalgia, yet which device is inexpensive to manufacture, thereby permitting wide use and distribution.

These, together with the various ancillary objects and features of the invention which will become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by this device, preferred embodiments of which have been illustrated in the accompanying drawings, by way of example only, wherein:

Figure l is a horizontal sectional view through a shoe and showing in phantom a foot in a shoe, illustrating the construction and placement of a device adapted to underlie the great toe and rst metatarsal head of the wearer of the shoe and specifically to relieve the second metatarsal head of a portion of the weight load;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional View as taken along the plane of line 2 2 of Figure l, illustrating in particular the placement of the device;

Figure 3 is another sectional detailed view as taken along the plane of line 3 3 of Figure l;

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the device of Figure l;

Figure 5 is a transverse, sectional, detailed View as taken along the plane of line 5 5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a partial sectional view similar to that of Figure 1, illustrating a modified form of the invention adapted to underlie the second metatarsal head, whereby relief can be aorded to the third and, if necessary, the fourth metatarsal heads;

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view as taken along the plane of line 7 7 of Figure 6;

Figure 8 yis a sectional detailed view similar to that of Figures 1 and 6, illustrating a further modified form of the invention employing a device designed to provide relief to the fourth metatarsal head;

Figure 9 is a sectional detailed view as taken along the plane of line 9 9 of Figure 8; and

Figure 10 is an elevational View with parts being shown in section illustrating the construction of a shoe having a device positioned therein.

With continuing reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, reference numeral 10 generally designates a shoe of conventional construction having the device generally designated by reference numeral 12 and comprising the present invention embedded or secured during the manufacture of the shoe, with the edge 14 of the foot pad 12 in alignment with and conforming to the contours of the inside edge of the shoe. The device 12 is constructed of a layer 16 of fine grain sponge rubber or other suitable material and has a sheet thin leather or other suitable flexible material bonded thereto and indicated at 20. The other portions of the peripheral edge 22 of the layer of sponge rubber 16 are tapered as shown and are left uncovered, whereby upon compression the sponge rubber layer is not coniined and will not compress to form any lumpy portions which may be painful to the wearer.

As can be seen in Figure 1, the device 12 -is so arranged as to afford comfort, especially to the second metatarsal head. It is noted that the foot bones are shown in section, the ankle bone or astragalus being indicated at 26. In the views shown in Figures 6 and 8, other similar devices 30 and 32 are shown, which are constructed of similar materials, including layers of a resilient, compressible material, as at 34 and 36, respectively, formed of a ne grain sponge rubber or the like covered by a sheet of thin leather or other suitable liexible material, as indicated at 38 and 42 respectively. The forms of the invention as shown at 30 and 32 may either be embedded in the shoe during the manufacture if such is found desirable or cemented, bonded or otherwise positioned within the shoe 46 as is shown by the device at 48 in Figure 10. In the arrangements as shown in Figures 2, 3, 7 and 9, the respective devices are positioned between an upper layer of leather, cork or material as indicated at and above the sole 62 of the shoe and above the conventional cushion pad 64 which is conventionally bonded to the sole 62.

The mechanics of action of these devices are based upon the principle of removal of weight from affected areas and redistributing it to the other areas of the foot. Thus, the fundamental cause of metatarsalgia, which is the poor distribution of weight bearing among the iive metatarsal heads, is alleviated, relieving the pain and resulting in the possibility of a complete cure for metatarsalgia.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and de scribed, and, accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

l. A metatarsal support for redistributing the weight load within the region of three adjacent metatarsal heads comprising an L-shaped support pad having raised 1ongitudinal and transverse legs, the former supporting and underlying and extending -both forwardly and rearwardly of that one of the metatarsal heads which is most proximate the inside of the foot, said transverse leg extending transversely of the foot and underlying and supporting the region immediately rearwardly of the other two of said metatarsal heads whereby to increase the weight load upon said one metatarsal head and decrease the weight load upon the other two of said metatarsal heads. f 2. A foot support for redistribut-ing the Weight load upon a pair of adjacent metatarsal heads comprising an L-shaped support pad having raised longitudinal and transverse legs, said longitudinal leg supporting and underlying and extending both forwardly and rearwardly of the metatarsal head which is adjacent the inside of the foot whereby to increase the weight load thereon, said transverse leg extending from the longitudinal leg transverse and inwardly of the foot in rearwardly spaced relation to the other of said pair of heads whereby to relieve the latter of some of the weight load.

3. A foot support for redistributing the weight load upon a pair of adjacent metatarsal heads comprising an L-shaped support pad having raised longitudinal and transverse legs, said longitudinal leg supporting and underlying and extending both forwardly and rearwardly of the metatarsal head which is adjacent the inside of the foot whereby to increase the weight load thereon, said transverse leg extending from the longitudinal leg transverse and inwardly of the foot in rearwardly spaced lrelation to the other of said pair of heads whereby to relieve the latter of some of the weight load, said longitudinal leg having its outer edge positioned at the inside edge of the foot and of the same contour as the latter.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said transverse leg has a rearward edge which underlies all three of said metatarsals.

5. The combination of claim 2 wherein said transverse 4 leg underlies and supports the intermediate portions of both of said metatarsals rearwardly of said pair of heads.

6. An orthopedic support for redistributing the weight load of the tirst and second metatarsal heads comprising an L-shaped support pad having longitudinal and transverse legs, the former underlying and supporting the first metatarsal head whereby to increase the weight load thereon and the latter extending transversely of the foot and spaced rearwardly of the second metatarsal head whereby to reduce the weight load thereon.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said longitudinal leg has an outer edge positioned at and conforming to the contour of the inside edge of a foot and extending both forwardly and rearwardly of the first metatarsal head, said transverse leg having a rearward edge positioned adjacent the rearward ends of the second and third metatarsals and underlying and supporting said second and third metatarsals rearwardly of their heads.

8. A weight load distributing metatarsal support pad comprising an L-shaped body having longitudinal and transverse legs, said longitudinal leg. extending both forwardly and rearwardly of and underlying and supporting each of the iirst and second metatarsal heads whereby to increase the weight load thereon, said transverse leg extending from the rearward end of said horizontal leg transversely and inwardly of the foot therefrom and being positioned in rearwardly spaced relation to the third metatarsal head whereby to support the third metatarsal rearwardly of the third head and thereby decrease the weight load upon the latter.

9. The combination of claim 8 wherein the end of said transverse leg which is remote to said longitudinal leg terminates in spaced relation to the outside of the foot and beneath the fourth metatarsal.

Morton Dec. 30, 1952 Morton Dec. 15, 1953 

